The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-11-25

Tne radical reduction Of the duties inn,
posed upon raw material used In manu-
features or its tree importation Il Of
course an Important factor in any effort
to reduce the price Of these necessaries;
1t would not emily relieve them from the
increased cost caused by the tariff on
such material, but the manufactured
product being thus cheapened, that part
OF the tariff now laid upon such
product as Compensation to our manu-
facturers for the present price of
raw material could be accordingly modified.
Such reduction or free importation would
serve beside to largely reduce the revenue. It
is not apparent how such q change can have
any injurious effect upon our manufacturers.
On the contrary, 1t would appear to give them
better chance in foreign markets with the
manufacturers OF other countries, who cheap
en- their wares By free material Thus our peo-
pie might have the opportunity of extending
their sales beyond the limits Of home consump-
ton, saving them from the depression. inter-
ruption in business, and loss caused by glut-
tad domestic market, and affordlng their en-
pioyes more certain and steady labor, with its
resulting quiet and contentment.
The question thus imperatively presented for
solution should be approached In q spirit
higher than partisanship, and considered in
the light Of that regard for patriotic duty
which should characterizs the action of those
intrusted with the veal Of . conhding people.
But the obligation to declared party policy and
prin ciple. is not wanting to urge prompt and
effective action. Both of the great political
parties now represented in the government
have, by repeated authoritative declarations,
Condemned the Condition of Our Laws,
which permit the collection from the people Of
unnecessary revenue, and have. In the most
solemn manner promieed fts Correction. and
neither as citizens or partisans are our coun-
trymen In mood to condone the deliberate
violation of these pledges. Our progress to-
ward a wise conclusion WIN not be improved
by dwelling upon the theories Of protection
and free trade. This savors too much of BAN
dying epithets, 1t 10 q condition which con-
fronts us, not theory. Relief from this con-
advantages which we award our home prodnc-
tions, but the entire withdrawal Of such adj
vantages should not be contemplated. The
question of free trade Is absolutely irrelevant,
and persistent claim made in certain quarters
that all efforts TO save the people from unjust
and unnecessary taxation are schemes of so
called free-traders, is mischieyous and far re-
moved from any consideration for the public
good. The simple and plain duty which we
owe the people is to reduce taxation to the
necessary expenses of an economical operation
OF the government, and to restore to the busi-
ness of the country the money which we hold
In the treasury through the perversion of gov
ernmental powers These things oan and
should be done with safety to all our indus
tries, without danger to the opportunity for
remuueratiye labor which our worldngmen
need, and with be eft to them and all our
people by cheapening their means of subsist-
ence and increasing the measure of their COM
forts GROVER CLEVELAND.
Washington, Dec. g.